Clouds

Who can understand how he spreads out the clouds, how he thunders from his pavilion?

Job 39:29

Our Dependence Day- NOT a Typo

I feel it quite necessary every July 4th to be sure that my post is about this important event. This is of course only my third Independence Day post. But now that it is around again I feel the same need to be sure on that day I post about THAT day.



AND once again I am always struck by that word independence realizing that we are not EVER independent. We are very dependent on the God of the universe, Jesus Christ, who holds it all together and without Whom we would not draw our next breath. This idea of independence is truly contrary to biblical principles in many ways. It is also contrary to secular ideas as well; because without the good men and women who give of their time, their effort, and many their lives and limbs to protect this nation we would not be “independent.”



The Bible clearly says that we are either slaves to sin or slaves to righteousness. That certainly doesn’t sound independent to me either. Before we are given new life in Christ we are slaves to sin, and then after we are slaves to righteousness because we have been bought at a price. Our lives are not our own. We owe Him Who paid the price for our sins everything-our lives, our love, our efforts, our hearts and minds and souls!



So, the way I see it, as Christians we are certainly not independent; and even those who espouse no faith of any kind are not “independent” either, relying on many, many good servants who provide them daily with the freedom to choose not to have any faith at all or any kind of faith they choose! Yet, on this day our country declared itself independent of another nation whose treatment we considered to be tyrannical. And that is a day worth marking.



Does America have issues? You betcha. We have a lot of issues. Do we have a lot of practices, behaviors and policies that are blatantly wrong? You betcha! We sure do. Have we, as time has gone on, forgotten how greatly God has blessed this land and the reason for that blessing? I would say yes. I would say that, yes, there are a vast number of people who have turned their backs upon the God who helped to form and bless this land. That is without a doubt if you but pick up the newspaper on any given day and do a little reading or watch the evening news on any given night. We live in a fallen world and America is no exception.



I would still declare though that in a country by country comparison, we have it pretty good over here in America. And as there was always a remnant in Israel after God allowed their enemies to defeat them, there is a remnant here in America as well. I like to believe a very large remnant, a larger remnant than it would seem too, by reading the paper and listening to the news. I truly believe that.



I believe that there are quite a few people who remember that though we celebrate this day as our Independence Day we are NOT independent. We are very dependent upon one another-the men and women who serve this nation and all of our brothers and sisters in Christ-and very much dependent upon God and His Holy Spirit, without whom our enemy Satan would go about devouring us like the roaring lion that scripture tells us that He is.



Jesus,



Thank You for the men and women who serve our nation to keep the enemy away from the shores. I pray for revival in our land, Lord. I pray that those who call themselves by Your name might turn and pray and repent and seek Your face that You might turn and heal our land. I pray for the safety of all our soldiers in all nations. I pray for the loving families who have sacrificed greatly while their loved ones put themselves in harm’s way or have given the ultimate sacrifice in defending this nation. I thank You for this nation that allows me to have and express my faith, and I pray that the right to do so never be removed from me by my country’s laws. May our nation always remain ONE nation under God! Swoop in Holy Spirit and breathe upon us here in the United States of America, that we might realize as we celebrate this Independence Day that we are very much dependent upon each other and most importantly upon You, Who paid and bought us at the precious price of Your blood. Thank You, men and women in the armed forces. And thank You, Jesus. May our freedom that is not, nor ever has been free, remind us to fall upon our knees and seek Your blessing and praise Your name. In Your precious name, Jesus, Amen!

God in America Again

Jesus...may we have an increase of Your Spirit throughout our Land...if we, your people, pray and turn from our wicked ways...Oh Lord...we pray...May You be found all across America again...in our schools, in our court rooms, in our hospitals, and most importantly in our hearts. Amen.

ABC's of the Word-The Letter U:

God's voice thunders in marvelous ways; He does great things beyond our understanding. Job 37:5

I think often we put God into a box. We put Him not only in a box but a box that is WAY to small for Him. I like to think on verses like the one above. I like to stop and realize that so much of the world, what God does, what He is doing, what He has done is beyond my understanding. I like to stop and realize that I must often rest on what scripture tells me and simply accept it. What for instance?

When life is hard, when evil seems to be winning, I must remember that He has told us He alone is sovereign and HE alone will repay. I must remember that He has promised justice will be served and one day all will be set right.

When I am failing, when I seem too weak, when the way seems impossible, I must stop and remember that He has promised that His grace is sufficient for me-that His power is made perfect in my weakness, that He alone directs my steps, that apart from Him I can do nothing, that if I commit my way unto Him HE will bring it to pass. That nothing is too difficult for the Lord, that I can cast all my cares upon Him for He cares for me. That I can come to Him when I am weary and He will give me rest!

His voice thunders...in marvelous ways...all His ways are marvelous. He is a force to be reckoned with. If He is for us, who can be against?

He does great things beyond our understanding. Yes. So much I do not understand.

If you don't understand...that is okay. God does. He knows. And you may not know what the future holds but You can know the One who holds it. And You can trust Him. He is faithful and true even we are faithless. He has promised to finish this good work He began in us. He has promised to come and take us to where He is. We can simply stop and realize that some things are simply beyond our understanding. And you know, I am glad I don't know it all! Knowing Him is enough!

To God belong wisdom and power;

counsel and understanding are his. Job 12:13

Creation Museum

When I started home educating I had preconceived ideas that I had no idea might be false. One was some of the supposed facts I was taught about the age of the earth, whether man walked with dinosaurs, and other evolutionary ideas. It never occurred to me that the idea that the earth was hundreds of billions of years old is only spouted due to evolutionary thinking. See, if it isn't that old then evolution doesn't make any sense. And for me it doesn't make any sense. BUT I still accepted certain ideas. That man never walked with dinosaurs, that the earth was very old, that millions of years carved canyons...it never occured to me that since dinosaurs were created on the same day as man that they lived together. It never occurred to me that they couldn't have died out before us because before sin there was no death...sin brought death into the world! It never occurred to me that before sin we were all vegetarians as there was no death. So the dinosaurs would pose no threat. It never occurred to me that a world wide devastating flood explains fossils found and striated rock layers much more sensibly than evolutionary suppositions...



If any of this you find fascinating and would like to know more, you must visit the Creation Museum. It is in Kentucky just twenty minutes south of Cincinnati! It is a wonderful place. Very well put together, not shabby. Very well thought out. BEAUTIFUL! Ken Ham and Answers in Genesis put this wonderful museum together; and I for one am glad that sound scientific thinking is out there supporting what we read in the bible and refuting erroneous evolutionary thought!



Here are some pictures of our visit:



We started in a theater. It was a special effects theater. We could feel wind swooshing by us and our seats rumbled...it set up the theme for the place. But we were hungry so we ate at Noah's Cafe and sat outside looking at the beautiful grounds:













There are suspension bridges and walkways and even a petting zoo! The food was reasonably priced!



















Then we started our tour through history from a biblical perspective. Beautifully done. Adam and Eve and dinosaurs!











It takes you through the history of the world through sin and the results of it...it is the gospel message as you go...Here is a live talking moving Methuselah...the oldest living person ever- 969 years!









There was a built to scale model of the ark...1% of the whole thing but the actual size! It was amazing:













Lots of information to process...interactive computers...videos and more...a great experience all around! Even a short fifteen minutes movie presentation about the cross and salvation! We had a great time!






Prais God for this Museum that declares forthHis glory as Creator and Savior of the world!

A Field Trip...of Sorts

We went on a short weekend to the Cincinnati area with another home schooling family who have also been dear friends for many, many years. She has four children- the eldest a girl and the youngest three boys. Her eldest and mine, both pushing twenty, were not with us. And this was an interesting trip taking mostly teens-remembering the days when they were little and more awe struck, needing more corraling! Her youngest though contributed the childlike wonder as he is only 5 pushing 6 years old!



We started at the Newport Aquarium. It is actually in Kentucky, just a short hop over a bridge. There are many bridges to choose from:













We met up in the Newport Levee, they call it. Lots going on there. Little shops and performers dot the sidewalks...we wandered around a little waiting for our friends:











We had been to the aquarium when they were younger...our youngest not quite remembering it. Lots of fish to see...and things to touch as well. We touched sharks and star fish and horseshoe crabs.











My 17 year old couldn't take along his girlfirend so he took pictures with his cell phone and sent her pictures of everything!









I even got them to pose, my three and her three, in front of the alligator exhibit...see her small one amongst the giant teens! Precious!









We goofed around...and we also debated whether the gator in the following picture on the porch was alive or not. They can hold SO still. The adults felt it was alive...the teens...by the way they know everything...LOL...thought it wasn't. Then he moved! Guess they were wrong!











They even had an aviary where you could feed the birds sugar juice. But they are not as friendly as those at the Columbus Zoo and not as hungry either! This one poured his juice from the cup onto hubby's head!









Lots of fish and sharks in large tanks that surrounded you and were over your head as you walked through tunnels! Even the teens had a hard time hiding their fascination!













My favorite room and my friend's favorite as well was the jelly fish room. There were plush red velvet like cushions to sit on. Classical music was playing. The room was darkened with a gentle ambiance; and glowing and floating in tanks everywhere were amazing jelly fish!









The teens finally tired of my photo taking...check out these expressions!









Then back to the hotel to try to keep them in line as they rough housed in the pool. NOT an easy job and made harder by husbands who instigated most of the play! Men! Gotta love them, can't live with them! LOL!









Tomorrow our trip to the Creation Museum!

Letting Go or Giving UP?

So...here's a confession. My sons, the ones who have been home educated and discipled 24/7 for over 13 years, went to see an R rated movie. Yes. I understand how this might cause many to shake their heads in disbelief and also cause some disappointment. While I am sure there are others who find it completely of no interest at all; and some who even say, " Oh, so they are normal."

Here's the thing. There are R movies and there are R moves. This was an R movie. Oh my! When it was over I sat there with my hand over my face shaking my head. My husband turned to me and said, "Are you okay?" To which I replied, "I am a terrible mother." To which he laughed aloud in response.

I truly believe God made men and women fundamentally different in many ways. Think about it. Satan never tempted Adam. He was there long enough to name all the animals before God presented Eve. Satan deceived Eve. I think God created man with an armor that makes him more resistant to ideas that stem from others(and somewhat vulnerable to women they love). I see it in my husband all the time. I get better results when I lead him carefully to where I want him to go than suggest it out right. If it's his idea it is always a better one!

I see it in my sons too. This has been my trial, going from drill sergeant mom to a more delicate supervisory role. My sons have no fear of seeing things that make my spirit cringe. While I firmly believe that a balance between the two stances is best, I have come to understand that my sons, now adultish males, truly are far less affected by movies than I am or I perceive them to be. They know what they know. They know truth. They have been well taught and instructed. They do not fear influence over their psyche and emotions. I do though! I do very much!

So is this letting go or is this giving up when I submit to majority opinion against my better judgement and allow such a viewing of such a movie?

I really don't know. This is one reason why I weary. I am always walking the tight rope trying to let my sons be in the world but not of the world, trying not to over control yet not release too freely.

I CAN say praise God that He is bigger than my mistakes. Praise God that His love covers over the multitude of my errors and sins.

There are many choices in this world to be made-every day, every hour! I need wisdom and discernment. My sons need wisdom and discernment. So I pray; and sometimes it seems I let go, and others times it seems as if I have given up. But I hear that whisper, "Do not weary in well doing for you shall reap a harvest in due season if you faint not."

Jesus,

Please help us to honor you in all we say and do. Please grant us wisdom. Please fill us with the knowledge of Your will. Please let us know when to say no and close our eyes and ears. Help me to find my way as I finish this job of training up sons in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. In Your name, Jesus. Amen.